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Science News for August 3, 2012


Bilingualism 'can increase mental agility'

A study published in the International Journal of Bilingualism found that bilingual children excelled in tasks requiring selective attention and mental agility, while monolingual children struggled. The research suggests that bilingualism can increase mental agility and benefits in areas such as problem-solving and creative thinking.

SourceUniversity of Strathclyde·JournalInternational Journal of Bilingualism·DateAug 3, 2012

Major step taken towards 'unbreakable' message exchange

Researchers have successfully produced and implemented single particles of light into a quantum key distribution link, enabling secure communication networks. The experiment uses semiconductor nanostructures to emit single photons with high efficiency, making it possible to transmit keys over longer distances without interception.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateAug 3, 2012

Touch your philodendron and control your computer

Researchers at Disney Research have created a technology called Botanicus Interactus, which enables plants to control digital devices with touch detection. This technology uses Swept Frequency Capacitive Sensing and machine-learning algorithms to recognize frequency changes associated with touches on the plant.

Supernova progenitor found?

Researchers have discovered a binary star system, QU Carinae, which may produce a type Ia supernova. The system's white dwarf is accumulating mass from a giant star, producing sodium gas that could be detected after the explosion.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 3, 2012

Mystery of elephant infrasounds revealed

Researchers discovered that elephants produce infrasounds by vibrating their large larynxes, similar to the human voice. This finding reveals the physical production mechanism behind these subaudible sounds, which play a crucial role in elephant communication and social life.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalScience·DateAug 3, 2012

People with allergies may have lower risk of brain tumors

A new study found that individuals with allergies had a significantly lower risk of developing glioma, a type of brain tumor. Women were more likely to benefit from this reduced risk, with those testing positive for elevated allergen-specific IgE experiencing a 54% decrease in glioblastoma risk.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateAug 3, 2012

Bacterial community inside the plant root

Researchers have discovered that plants like Arabidopsis select a specific bacterial community from the diverse microbial ecosystem in the soil, with Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla being preferred. This community is dependent on soil type and plant genotype, and plays a crucial role in plant health.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateAug 3, 2012